Changes to Attendance Thresholds from September 2015 (by the DfE): The government is committed to reducing absence and expects every pupil to maintain an attendance level of above 96%. With effect from September 2015, the Persistent Absence threshold will increase to 90% (previously 85%). This will mean that any pupil whose attendance is lower than 90%, at any point in the school year, will be classed as Persistently Absent.